Remakes and reboots are a tricky business. On one hand, there’s a lot to be said about cultivating new ideas and telling new stories. On the other, remaking something gives a filmmaker a chance to tell an old story in a new and (sometimes) better way. From what we’ve seen with the latest attempt at Stephen King’s IT, there’s definitely some potential.
Helping to prove the creators of the new film are on the right track are the many mash-ups and side-by-side comparisons of new and old like the one above shared by EW.com. Purists are bound to defend the original TV movie ’til they’re blue in the face, but we’re always open to new takes on things. And where the side-by-side cut of the two certainly show their similarities, it’s the nuance in the new film that gives us hope.
While Georgie’s paper boat scene looks very similar to the original, the new one stands out as superior for giving us more of Georgie’s childlike POV… and for simply for not being shot with sprinklers on an otherwise sunny day. The new IT will likely be scrutinized as much as any other remake these days but we’re downright excited to see what it has to offer. And so far, the new Georgie laugh/scream “YOU’LL FLOAT TOO!” beats a bleeding photo album any day of the week.
The original may have been limited in budget and the fact it was aired on ABC for a 1990 audience–the upcoming film seems a more appropriate vessel to tell the story of Pennywise wreaking havoc on the town of Derry. Even if it ends up with a PG-13 rating (odds are, it will), there’s more you can do in terms of scares than you would with broadcast TV.
What are your thoughts on the new IT? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Images: Warner Bros. Pictures
